Ionic wind heat sink

ABSTRACT

An ionic wind heat sink includes a heat-dissipating structure and a high-voltage generator. The high-voltage generator is configured to output a positive high-voltage surge and a negative high-voltage surge. The high-voltage generator has a positive high-voltage end and a negative high-voltage end. A first electrical wire is electrically connected to the positive high-voltage end, and a second electrical wire is electrically connected to the negative high-voltage end. The two electrical wires generate an ionic wind flowing toward the heat-dissipating structure. With this arrangement, the whole mechanical construction of the heat sink can be simplified. The noise, vibrations and electricity consumption can be reduced, while the heat of a heat-generating source can be taken away efficiently.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heat sink, and in particular to an ionic wind heat sink.

2. Description of Prior Art

Electronic elements in various apparatuses often generate heat during their operation, which raises the temperature of the electronic elements. If the heat accumulated in the electronic element is not dissipated timely, the high temperature may cause the electronic element to reduce its operating speed and even suffer damage. In order to dissipate the heat, the conventional way of dissipating heat is to attach a heat conductor on a heat-generating source. Further, the heat conductor is formed with heat-dissipating fins. By using an airflow having a lower temperature to heat-exchange with the heat-dissipating fins, the temperature of the electronic element can be reduced.

In the above heat sink, only the heat-dissipating fins are used to be heat-exchanged with the ambient airflow, so that the heat-dissipating efficiency is insufficient. Thus, it is necessary to provide a fan for generating compulsory airflow to blow the heat-dissipating fins to thereby increase the heat-dissipating efficiency. However, the fan may unfavorably generate noise and vibrations during its operation. As a result, when the fan is used in a precision electronic system having sensors, the noise and vibrations may affect the accuracy of the precision electronic system and even reduce its life.

In view of the above, the present Inventor proposes a novel and reasonable structure based on his expert experiences and delicate researches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to simplify the mechanical structure of a heat sink to reduce noise and vibrations and take away the heat generated by a heat-generating source more efficiently.

The present invention is to provide an ionic wind heat sink, which includes:

a heat-dissipating structure constituted of a plurality of heat-dissipating pieces; and

a high-voltage generator for generating a positive high-voltage surge and a negative high-voltage surge, the high-voltage generator comprising a positive high-voltage end and a negative high-voltage end;

a first electrical wire electrically connected to the positive high-voltage end and arranged on one side of the heat-dissipating structure; and

a second electrical wire electrically connected to the negative high-voltage end and arranged on one side of the heat-dissipating structure,

wherein air surrounding the first electrical wire is ionized after the first electrical wire receives the positive high-voltage surge, the ionized air is attracted by the negative high-voltage surge of the second electrical wire, thereby generating an ionic wind flowing toward the heat-dissipating structure.

The present invention has advantages features as follows. The high-voltage generator generates an ionic wind flowing toward the heat-dissipating structure by means of the first electrical line and the second electrical line. The ionic wind is an active cooling airflow, so that it eliminates a need for the installation of a fan. Further, the whole mechanical construction can be simplified, the noise and vibration can be reduced, and the consumption of electricity is low. Thus, the heat sink may not suffer damage easily and can be repaired rapidly. When the ionic wind heat sink of the present invention is used in a precision electronic system that is sensitive to vibrations, the accuracy and life of the sensors in this precision electronic system will not be affected and the heat generated by a heat-generating source can be taken away efficiently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the operating mechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The characteristics and technical contents of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the present invention.

The present invention relates to an ionic wind heat sink. Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. The ionic wind heat sink includes a heat-dissipating structure 200, a high-voltage generator 300, a first electrical wire 330, and a second electrical wire 340.

The heat-dissipating structure 200 is constituted of a plurality of heat-dissipating pieces 210.

The high-voltage generator 300 is electrically connected to a power source for generating a positive high-voltage surge and a negative high-voltage surge. The high-voltage generator 300 comprises a positive high-voltage end 310 and a negative high-voltage end 320. The first electrical wire 330 has a first electrode 360 electrically connected to the positive high-voltage end 320. The second electrical wire 340 has a second electrode 370 electrically connected to the negative high-voltage end 320. The first electrical wire 330 and the second electrical wire 340 are arranged horizontally with respect to the heat-dissipating structure 200. Further, the second electrical wire 340 is located between the first electrical wire 330 and the heat-dissipating structure 200, and a certain distance is formed between the second electrical wire 340 and the heat-dissipating structure 200 to thereby prevent the short circuiting of electric arc.

The ionic wind heat sink further includes a support 350. The support 350 is an insulator and made of plastic or other suitable materials. The support 350 is provided with a slot 251 in which the first electrode 360 and the second electrode 370 can be inserted.

Please refer to FIG. 3. After the first electrical wire 330 receives a positive high-voltage surge, the first electrical wire 330 generates a strong electric field exceeding the dielectric strength of ambient air. Thus, electrons are accelerated to strongly collide with the crystal structure of air molecules, which makes the air molecules to generate permanent structural displacement and start to be ionized, thereby emitting sound and light. Such a phenomenon is referred to as corona discharge, which is a stable plasma discharge at low temperature. The region surrounding the first electrical wire 330 in which the air is ionized is called a corona range, while the region outside the corona range in which the air is not ionized is called a unipolar region. On the other hand, electrons in air molecules are attracted by a positive electrode to depart from the air molecules, so that the air molecules are ionized to become positive-charged ions. These positive ions are attracted by the negative high-voltage surge of the second electrical wire 340 to move toward the second electrical wire 340. The travelling positive ions pushes neutral air molecules to generate a corona wind flowing toward the heat-dissipating structure 200. Such a corona wind is also referred to as an ionic wind. The ionic wind flows through the heat-dissipating pieces 210 and finally exits the heat-dissipating structure 200.

The present invention can be used inside an electronic device of a limited space, such as notebook, mobile phone, electric dictionary or the like. The ionic wind heat sink can be mounted on one side of the electronic device or mounted on a circuit board directly. Alternatively, the ionic wind heat sink can be made into a module, and then such a module is fixed to the circuit board. The ionic wind is guided by the heat-dissipating structure 200 to flow leftwards, rightwards and rearwards respectively, thereby dissipating the heat of heat-generating sources (such as battery, light-emitting diodes, CPU or other electronic elements) in multiple directions.

The heat-dissipating structure 200 can be made as a heat-dissipating fin assembly that is attached to a heat-generating source. The heat-dissipating piece 210 can be made by metals or other suitable materials. The heat generated by the heat-generating source is conducted to the heat-dissipating structure 200. The ionic wind with a lower temperature flows through airflow channels 220 to take away the heat accumulated in the heat-dissipating pieces 210, thereby cooling the heat-generating source.

In virtue of the ionic wind heat sink, it is unnecessary to mount an additional fan to help the heat dissipation. Thus, the problems resulted from the noise, vibrations and life of the fan can be avoided. Thus, the ionic wind heat sink is very suitable for a precision electronic system having sensors. Further, the current for the operation of the ionic wind heat sink is only several mini-amperes, and the electricity consumed per second is as low as several mini-watts. Thus, the present invention consumes less electricity, which is cost-effective especially in such an era short of energy sources.

Alternatively, the arrangement of the first electrical wire 330 and the second electrical wire 340 can be embodied by other ways. Please refer to FIG. 4. The second electrical wire 340 is located between the first electrical wire 330 and the heat-dissipating structure 220. Also, the first electrical wire 330 and the second electrical wire 340 are located at different levels with respect to the heat-dissipating structure 200. Alternatively, please refer to FIG. 5. The first electrical wire 330 and the second electrical wire 340 are located in the same vertical plane with respect to the heat-dissipating structure 200.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalent variations and modifications can still occur to those skilled in this art in view of the teachings of the present invention. Thus, all such variations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. An ionic wind heat sink, including: a heat-dissipating structure constituted of a plurality of heat-dissipating pieces; and a high-voltage generator for generating a positive high-voltage surge and a negative high-voltage surge, the high-voltage generator comprising a positive high-voltage end and a negative high-voltage end; a first electrical wire electrically connected to the positive high-voltage end and arranged on one side of the heat-dissipating structure; and a second electrical wire electrically connected to the negative high-voltage end and arranged on one side of the heat-dissipating structure, wherein air surrounding the first electrical wire is ionized after the first electrical wire receives the positive high-voltage surge, the ionized air is attracted by the negative high-voltage surge of the second electrical wire, thereby generating an ionic wind flowing toward the heat-dissipating structure.
 2. The ionic wind heat sink according to claim 1, wherein the second electrical wire is located between the first electrical wire and the heat-dissipating structure.
 3. The ionic wind heat sink according to claim 2, wherein the first electrical wire and the second electrical wire are arranged horizontally with respect to the heat-dissipating structure.
 4. The ionic wind heat sink according to claim 2, wherein the first electrical wire and the second electrical wire are staggered at different levels with respect to the heat-dissipating structure.
 5. The ionic wind heat sink according to claim 2, wherein the first electrical wire and the second electrical wire are staggered at the same vertical plane with respect to the heat-dissipating structure.
 6. The ionic wind heat sink according to claim 1, wherein the first electrical wire has a first electrode electrically connected to the positive high-voltage end, and the second electrical wire has a second electrode electrically connected to the negative high-voltage end.
 7. The ionic wind heat sink according to claim 6, further including a support, the support having a slot in which the first electrode and the second electrode are inserted.
 8. The ionic wind heat sink according to claim 7, wherein the support is an insulator. 